Front fold implement frame with pivotal draft link connection

Abstract

A forward folding agricultural implement frame has a center frame with pivotally connected wings that fold forward for storage and laterally for use. A pair of draft links connects the wings to a telescopic hitch that extends forward from the center frame. A pivot pin operably mounted to a forward portion of the telescopic hitch defines a generally vertical pivot axis. A pivot link is connected to the pivot pin to pivot about the generally vertical pivot axis. The pivot link having a first portion on one side of the pivot pin and a second portion on an opposite of the pivot pin from the first portion. The draft links are pivotally connected to the first and second portions of the pivot link. When the wings are flexed in opposite directions (or when one wing is neutral and the other wing is flexed), the pivot link will permit opposite relative movement of the draft link ends relative to the inner hitch, which reduces internal stress and prevents permanent strain of the components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A forward folding implement including:
 a central frame; 
 a tongue extending forward from the central frame, the tongue having a proximate end attached to the central frame and a distal end attached to a hitch adapted for connection to a towing vehicle; 
 a first wing pivotally connected to the central frame and being pivotal between a working position extending laterally from the central frame and a transport position extending forwardly from the central frame adjacent to the tongue; 
 a second wing pivotally connected to the central frame and being pivotal between a working position extending laterally from the central frame and a transport position extending forwardly from the central frame adjacent to the tongue; 
 a pivot pin mounted to the distal end of the tongue, the pivot pin defining a generally vertical pivot axis; 
 a pivot link pivotally connected to the pivot pin to pivot about the generally vertical pivot axis, the pivot link having a first portion on one side of the pivot pin and a second portion on an opposite side of the pivot pin from the first portion; 
 a first draft link pivotally connected at a first end of the first draft link to the first wing and pivotally connected at a second end of the first draft link to the first portion of the pivot link; and 
 a second draft link pivotally connected at a first end of the second draft link to the second wing and pivotally connected at a second end of the second draft link to the second portion of the pivot link; 
 wherein the pivot link is configured such that the pivot link has:
 a first, neutral position occurring when the first wing and the second wing are flexed upward or downward by an equal amount; 
 a second position wherein the first portion of the pivot link is moved forward and the second portion of the pivot link is moved rearward occurring when the first wing is flexed downward more than the second wing or the second wing is flexed upward more than the first wing; and 
 a third position wherein the second portion of the pivot link is moved forward and the first portion of the pivot link is moved rearward occurring when the first wing is flexed upward more than the second wing or the second wing is flexed downward more than the first wing. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The forward folding implement of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue is a telescopic tongue comprising a hollow outer tongue member extending from the proximate end of the tongue towards the distal end of the tongue, and an inner tongue member that is telescopically received within the outer tongue member. 
     
     
       3. The forward folding implement of  claim 2 , wherein a pivot frame is secured to the inner tongue member at the distal end of the tongue, and further wherein the pivot pin is mounted within the pivot frame. 
     
     
       4. The forward folding implement of  claim 3 , wherein the pivot frame comprises
 a top plate; 
 a bottom plate; and 
 a pair of side plates spanning between the top and bottom plate; and 
 wherein the pivot pin is supported by the top and bottom plates. 
 
     
     
       5. The forward folding implement of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first wing comprises a first wing proximal portion and a first wing distal portion, the first wing proximal portion being pivotally connected to the central frame by a generally vertically oriented first wing frame pivot member, and the first wing distal portion being pivotally connected to the first wing proximal portion by a generally horizontally oriented first wing distal pivot member; 
 the second wing comprises a second wing proximal portion and a second wing distal portion, the second wing proximal portion being pivotally connected to the central frame by a generally vertically oriented second wing frame pivot member, and the second wing distal portion being pivotally connected to the second wing proximal portion by a generally horizontally oriented second wing distal pivot member; 
 the first draft link is connected to the first wing at the first wing distal portion; 
 the second draft link is connected to the second wing at that second wing distal portion; and 
 the distal wing portions are rotatable upward and downward with respect to their respective proximal wing portions around their respective distal pivot members, whereby upward rotation of either distal wing portion causes its corresponding draft link to urge its corresponding portion of the pivot link rearward and downward rotation of either wing causes its corresponding draft link to urge its corresponding portion of the draft link forward. 
 
     
     
       6. A draft link connector for attaching a pair of draft links to a hitch member of a forward folding agricultural implement, the draft link connector comprising:
 a pivot frame adapted to be secured to a hitch member of a forward folding agricultural implement; 
 said hitch member attached to a tongue of the forward folding agricultural implement opposite a central toolbar; 
 a pivot pin mounted to the pivot frame, the pivot pin defining a generally vertical pivot axis; 
 a pivot link pivotally connected to the pivot pin to pivot about the generally vertical pivot axis, the pivot link having a first portion on one side of the pivot pin and a second portion on an opposite side of the pivot pin from the first portion; 
 a first opening in the first portion of the pivot link for receiving a first pivot member to pivotally connect a first draft link to the pivot link; and 
 a second opening in the second portion of the pivot link for receiving a second pivot member to pivotally connect a second draft link to the pivot link; 
 wherein the pivot link has:
 a first, neutral position; 
 a second position wherein the first portion of the pivot link is moved forward and the second portion of the pivot link is moved rearward; and 
 a third position wherein the second portion of the pivot link is moved forward and the first portion of the pivot link is moved rearward. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The draft link connector of  claim 6 , wherein the pivot frame comprises:
 a top plate; 
 a bottom plate; and 
 a pair of side plates spanning between the top and bottom plate; and 
 wherein the pivot pin is supported by the top and bottom plates. 
 
     
     
       8. An agricultural implement frame comprising:
 a center frame; 
 a pair of wings foldably connected to the center frame; 
 a first draft link and a second draft link connecting the wings to a distal end of a telescoping hitch: 
 a pivot frame secured to the distal end of the telescoping hitch; 
 a pivot pin mounted to the pivot frame, the pivot pin defining a generally vertical pivot axis; 
 a pivot link pivotally connected to the pivot pin to pivot about the generally vertical pivot axis, the pivot link having a first portion on one side of the pivot pin and a second portion on an opposite side of the pivot pin from the first portion; 
 a first pivot member connecting the first draft link to the first portion of the pivot link; 
 a second pivot member connecting the second draft link to the second portion of the pivot link; and 
 wherein the pivot link is configured such that the pivot link has:
 a first, neutral position occurring when the pair of wings are flexed upward or downward by an equal amount; 
 a second position wherein the first portion of the pivot link is moved forward and the second portion of the pivot link is moved rearward occurring when one of the pair of wings is flexed upward more than the other wing of the pair of wings; and 
 a third position wherein the second portion of the pivot link is moved forward and the first portion of the pivot link is moved rearward occurring when the one of the pair of wings is flexed downward more than the other wing of the pair of wings. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The agricultural implement frame of  claim 8 , wherein the pivot frame comprises
 a top plate; 
 a bottom plate; and 
 a pair of side plates spanning between the top and bottom plate; and 
 wherein the pivot pin is supported by the top and bottom plates. 
 
     
     
       10. The agricultural implement frame of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a first wing of the pair of wings comprises a first wing proximal portion and a first wing distal portion, the first wing proximal portion being pivotally connected to the central frame by a generally vertically oriented first wing frame pivot member, and the first wing distal portion being pivotally connected to the first wing proximal portion by a generally horizontally oriented first wing distal pivot member; 
 a second wing of the pair of wings comprises a second wing proximal portion and a second wing distal portion, the second wing proximal portion being pivotally connected to the central frame by a generally vertically oriented second wing frame pivot member, and the second wing distal portion being pivotally connected to the second wing proximal portion by a generally horizontally oriented second wing distal pivot member; 
 the first draft link is connected to the first wing at the first wing distal portion; 
 the second draft link is connected to the second wing at that second wing distal portion; and 
 the distal wing portions are rotatable upward and downward with respect to their respective proximal wing portions around their respective distal pivot members, whereby upward rotation of either distal wing portion causes its corresponding draft link to urge its corresponding portion of the pivot link rearward and downward rotation of either wing causes its corresponding draft link to urge its corresponding portion of the draft link forward.